Is an allopathic qualification essential to being a good homoeopathic practitioner?

After much discussion ~ and based on the reality that most allopathically trained physicians do NOT have a good grasp on the correct practice of homoeopathy, we at the IHM have concluded that it is not, and moreover, that bridging the gap between medical and non-medical homoeopaths is an integral part of the therapy’s future.

To this end, we have decided on the following:

We aim to strengthen the IHM’s presence worldwide, and especially in Spain where its headquarters are currently located, by continuing as an independent homoeopathic research and teaching association offering international seminars, practitioner training and master classes. We have presented Seminars since 1987 and formed 5 teaching colleges.

To offer IHM membership to medical and non-medical practitioners, according to IHM’s membership requirements, which will endorse a practitioner as a well trained specialist in homoeopathic medicine regardless of allopathic qualifications. We only teach the therapy as per the Organon and do not overlay the writings of Kent or any modern thinking regarding what homoeopathy is.

The IHM Association will comprise of

Support members. (Non practitioners.)

Student Homoeopaths

H.M licentiate Homoeopaths (medical and non medical)

Only Licentiate Practitioners, those who have trained with the IHM and have passed the requisite entry requirements for endorsement, will be promoted on the IHM’s official register.

What we offer:

Based on the writings and thoughts of Samuel Hahnemann,

“…I have decided to open here in Leipsic, at the beginning of April, an Institute for Graduated Physicians. In this Institute I shall elucidate in every respect the entire homoeopathic system of healing as taught in the “Organon,” and shall make a practical application of it with patients treated in their presence, and thus place my pupils in a condition to be able to practise this system in all cases themselves. A six months’ course will be sufficient to enable any intelligent mind to grasp the principles of this most helpful science of healing. More detailed conditions will be sent on receipt of a prepaid envelope. Dr. Samuel Hahnemann.Leipsic. 4th December, 1811.”

We took a look at the procedure to train persons to become a homoeopathic physician. Knowing that most people cannot take a 6 months sabbatical (as per Hahnemanns proposal) we have devised a method of seminar attendance and home study that spans one year. This will include:

Details pertaining to the professional one year training course. Leading to Licenciateship with the IHM

An initial 4 day intensive training session at our Seville Spain faculty. This training is for both neophytes and practicing consultants.

A further period of guided home study.Online discussions.Another day 5 training session in our Seville faculty with emphasis on case management.

A final assessment by the IHM officers and moderators as to readiness to be placed on the IHM register as a licentiate of the Institute.

(If in the opinion of the training officers, if is thought that a practitioner is of sufficient knowledge and expertise and practices according to Hahnemanns methods, the IHM will consider awarding a licentiateship after the primary one week training.)

What we cover in the 4 day intensive.

A thorough grounding in Hahnemanns methodology and teachings.

You will see through case analysis how his method of understanding the disease state is superior to any other and allows for an accurate case management program.

You will see what a ‘miasm’ is and how to take it into account if required.

You will learn LM or Q potencies and how to use them.

You will learn rubric understanding of the Therapeutic Pocket Book and see its superiority in case analysis.

You will have more success in your practice utilizing Hahnemanns directions.

We will consider traveling to a location and conducting the teaching on site for 6 or more students for the 4 day intensive. Contact us to discuss.

We also conduct 2 day seminars in Spain. Contact us to discuss.

The IHM uses primary source materials for all of its teachings. Gary Weaver and Vladimir Polony compiled the SYNOPSIS computer program and spent 3 years working on updating the 1846 Therapeutic Pocket Book by Boenninghausen, to correct errors of insertion, gradings and removing the incorrect additions by Allen. P & W also clarified the outdated English language and revised the terminology yet remained true to the original meaning. The repertory has been translated from the original German (included in the program) to English, Spanish, Italian, Hebrew and Polish. More languages will be added as and when.

Dr. Gary Weaver D.O., Dhommed I.H.M., H.A.Delhi., M.C.C.H (England), H.B.C.C. (India)., Dgrad H.I.Sydney.Dr. Weaver began his studies in Homoeopathy in 1979 training in England and India. In 1987 he became the co-founder of the Manchester College of Classical Homoeopathy and in 1989 founded the Leeds College of Classical Homoeopathy. In 1990 he founded the Institute for Homoeopathic Medicine in Dublin Ireland. In 1990 he opened the Kuopio Homoeopathic Education and Research Association in Finland. From 2003-2007 he conducted research into the original repertory of Boenninhausen, and is co- director of OpenRep SYNOPSIS the specialist Boenninghausen software. Gary Weaver has presented seminars in Australia, India, Hong Kong, Finland Spain and England.

August: We can accommodate your choice of days in August as is the major holiday month in Seville. Normally we are time framed in Thursday to Sunday, however in
August we can have any selection of 4 days. Let us know what days suit you and we will check our calendar.

Much interest and correspondence for the English 5 day personal training course. Practitioners from Austria, the UK and Hong Kong. We recently completed training with colleagues from Poland.

We know that air fares fluctuate depending on the day of travel so we accommodate practitioners by having the start date mid week or at a weekend if we can facilitate. Also, if the colleagues are staying more than 7 days, we can give a one day break in the course to allow them to rest and assemble the information in their head….and then back to the study.

This 5 day course is the foundation for all homoeopathic learning. We believe that the therapy of homeoeopathy can be learned in one year if taught correctly. 4 months of that time would be devoted to practical case taking and analysis and practice and applying all the information that has been absorbed. 5 days of solid teaching will remove a lot of misconceptions and will give a firm and sold rationale for using Hahnemanns therapy with the doubt removed as to what to do.

I asked IHM members for their reflections and comments on why they studied the Therapeutic Pocket Book method with the IHM… Here is Guillermo Zamora.

I first read some articles from Gary Weaver on a homoeopathic web forum about 6 or 7 years ago. What attracted my attention was the adherence to the practice of homoeopathy through the writings of Samuel Hahnemann, and no affinity to any of the modern methods currently in evidence. In reading the few cases he presented, I saw a clarity of prescribing that did not prioritise mental symptoms over any other symptoms, but rather looked for the altered state of health where it lay.

I am a State trained medical homoeopath here in Mexico. Most of our training is in the works of KENT and later the modern ‘masters’. It has been my practice to read widely and examine everything especially from the early pioneers of our medical therapy.

My son had developed a very bad excema. Help had been sought from another practitioner on the web forum but success was not to be found. I wrote Gary and asked if he could help. He asked for all the notes and for me to itemise each symptom carefully. He took the notes and would email for clarification on several points.

I had already decided on a remedy of Rhus Tox for the prescription and discussed it with Gary. He said that as his role in this case was advisory, he could not advise Rhus Tox as a prescription just yet.

He explained to me how he had arrived at Sepia for the boy and why it could not be Rhus Tox.

Two main modalities that were exhibited was aggravated from heat and a high angry disposition. Gary told me that this was important in my sons case as both symptoms were strong in the disease.

Gary prescribed Sepia. To be honest, I was not happy with the prescription. It was against everything I knew about remedies. It was not an ‘eczema’ remedy. However, I went along with it.

Im so glad I did. My son is glad he did. We watched the eczema die. We saw it gently leave his skin. A few weeks later, Gary told me to give Rhus Tox as the symptoms had changed and required Rhus to finish.

After the Sepia.

Gary showed me through the clinic and the pages of Hahnemanns writings what the practice of the therapy was really about. A short time later, my father developed a life threatening illness and once more Gary showed me the efficacy of homoeopathy above any other system of medicine.

I decided to study the Therapeutic pocket book with Gary. I offered to translate the P&W Englsh version into Spanish and we worked together on that project for several months. Later I joined the IHM team and was asked to head up the Mexico IHM presence and school. It has been an amazing unfolding of understanding that has benefited my clinic and me personally. The IHM has always encouraged me to reach and study and reflect using the principles of the therapy so that I instinctively know what to do even if at the moment I do not know the answer.

Gary has an unswerving adherence to the law of similars. He is fully aware of the different approaches to health care and will utilise what is necessary in emergency situations, but always maintains that permanent cure comes through the application of similars.

As a fully trained medical practitioner of homoeopathy, I was deeply surprised to find what I did not know, and even more surprised to find what I knew was incorrect on a lot of levels. The IHM has taught me by pointing my gaze in the right direction for answers, and also by conversations where Garys experience and research answered all my questions.

When I first started doing seminars here in Mexico, Gary did not try and control any of the material presented. He just said that I knew enough to be effective and I should go and enjoy the teaching. He has always been supportive of all of our efforts and gives information freely. There is a lot of respect shown to us.

I know that the IHMs main aim is to develop the independent practitioner who knows homoeopathy. I have never seen any ego displayed or the desire to teach a personal methodology.

For those contemplating an intensive in homoeopathic medicine, I will state that one week with the IHM will give you knowledge and understanding and the desire to continue along the path to be a Hahnemannian homoeopath.

“……I first came across the IHM on the internet about 6 or 7 years ago. I was reading a homoeopathic web forum when I came across a few articles and case examples using the Boenninghausen therapeutic book for case analysis, yet always refering back to the Organon for each step of the process. I continued to read each article as they appeared. I have been in and around homoeopathic medicine for 20 some years. I studied Vithoulkas and worked with Andre Saines methodology for about 8 years. In all that time though, I never felt I had a ‘grasp’ on understanding the case or case management.

I also had a very painful disease state that had been on me for nearly 30 years for which no practitioner had been able to touch.

Contact was made with Gary Weaver regarding my health and I asked him if it would be possible to cure me. After listening to my symptoms he said yes. He also told me it would be a little painful at times and not be quick. He said that cure would be to the extent of whatever damage had been done but it would happen. He was right. It took 2.5 years. There were times it was very painful. In those moments, Gary told me to take some pain relievers and carry on. With his constant and reassuring presence at the end of a phone, I was able to work through each difficulty and occasional setback until I was free of my disease.

Towards the end of my treatment, I asked him a couple of questions regarding homoeopathy, and much to my delight, he pointed me to references in the Organon and Chronic diseases and explained what Hahnemann meant by his comments. I began to ask other questions and within 2 weeks I felt that I finally had begun to comprehend what homoeopathy is. Gary kindly set aside a couple of hours a week for me so we could discuss anything I needed to know.

Im an older man now, and my disease and the lack of good teaching sadly meant I missed out on a career in homoeopathic medicine as a professional. I wish I had met Gary 30 years before.

I learned more about homoeopathy in a few hours of chat with him, than in all of my studying and training. Gary ALWAYS references to the Organon and cross references with cases and other writings. There is a clarity in his approach to the practice that allows him to work through a problem in a linear methodology. He has a grasp of homoeopathic principles and an unswerving confidence in the law of similars that I have never seen before.

In the last 4 years, I have studied with the IHM and worked on many cases with Gary. One case in particular sticks in my mind. Gary had encouraged me to take on a few private acute diseases, and one was neighbours dog. This dog had a problem of sucking on his paws until they were sore. he would do it day and night. I had worked out a remedy for the dog and Gary listened to my explanation of why it was that remedy. He didnt say anything so I finally asked if it was correct. In a very brief 2 sentence explanation of his thinking, he recommended a remedy that was not in my repertorisation. I decided to try it.

After the first dose, the dog just looked stunned. It would look at his paws and that was it. It was strange to see this dog just looking at his paws without licking them.Over the following weeks, a brief return to the problem and the remedy was repeated. Now the dog is a happy normal dog with no anxiety issues at all.

The reason that this case sticks in my mind was just the way in which Gary had analysed the situation ‘as is’ and without interpretation. He just worked from the central symptoms and incorporated rubrics that described the reality. I think he use 3 rubrics. When I read the remedy, I saw exactly the state of symptoms that the dog exhibited. As stated, I have seen many cases worked on and the same logic is applied to each case. Occasionally a case fails to respond, and I have seen him re analyse the case to find where it went wrong… mostly he fixes it quickly. He is not swayed by names of diseases or knowledge of syndromes etc… he takes only the pertinent symptoms as displayed by the patient.

I must also add that Gary took my case on the phone. Just the symptoms.

I have had the pleasure of collating the P&W therapeutic Pocket Book into a print edition. When I came across rubrics that I did not understand, Gary would explain them to me through the remedies contained in them. He said that when Vladimir Polony and himself were translating, their reference to accurate understanding was always through the remedies. A rubric was a generalised expression of the symptom, and the totality of rubrics particularised a symptom/state that a remedy contained for the disease state expressed and for a remedy that could produce the similar symptom.

I would highly recommend a week of learning with the IHM no matter what stage of your career you are at. The clarity in which homoeopathy is presented will enhance your understanding and abilities 1000%. Gary and colleagues have no sense of self aggrandisement. They are more concerned with cases that do not respond and will retake the case until they understand it..they are interested in YOU as a practitioner and will bend over backwards to help you.”

The IHM is an organization dedicated to research and dissemination of accurate Hahnemannian knowledge regarding homoeopathy. We teach from the sources and hold no affinity to modern methods of practice or thinking.

We believe that homoeopathy is a branch of medicine based on the law of similars which is the best method for curing sickness. For a person willing to apply themselves to the learning of the principles and methodology of the practice, we believe (if it taught correctly) it can be learned in 6 to 12 months. This does not include other medical subjects like anatomy and physiology.

It is our experience that a practitioner who has learned the accurate knowledge of the medical practice as defined and proven by Hahnemann, is a practitioner that has surety in his ability to follow the principles and directives that will lead to success in his or her prescribing.

A Prescriber utilising the Boenninghausen developed methodology, based on Hahnemanns logic and thinking, will have a far greater understanding of the remedies and what they are capable of and be able to manage the case through to a successful conclusion.

There has been no beneficial advances made in recent years to enhance the logical and accurate methodology as defined by Hahnemann. The reverse sadly is true.

No. The course has been designed to teach both practitioners and those with no knowledge. For the practitioner, it will be more difficult as they will have to “unlearn” a lot of incorrect teachings, and for the neophyte it will be an accurate placement of primary knowledge.

telephone: +44 2921256260 English speaking only. It is an English phone number on SKYPE which I can pick up in Spain.

gary@garyweaver.org

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Q. What happens after the course?

The course is an intensive based at university level education level. There will much to read and recap over the following 6 months to consolidate and ratify everything you have absorbed. For the practitioner, it will be something he or she will slowly incorporate into the clinic, and as they grow more confident with the results, it will transform their clinic work immensely. For the neophyte who wish to continue in training, we will offer some online options.

The cost is €1000 Euros. This is for the course only, not included is the cost of accommodation, airfares, transportation or food. The training will be at our clinics and pharmacy. We will provide refreshments during the course at our clinics and pharmacy.

The course director is Gary Weaver, co translator of the P & W Therapeutic Pocket Book, an accurate modern day revised version of the original 1846 version. It took over 3 years of work to make it to an acceptable working version for the computer. (A book

version in English is available as well). Gary spent a number of years from 1998 researching the original writings of Hahnemann and collating his methodology for personal practice. Since then, the information has been presented to several hundreds of people in seminars and workshops.

With a choice of 2 locations, Seville Spain or Palma Mallorca, it is a great opportunity to take a holiday with the family and combine it with intensive training. We will arrange the teaching schedule so as to maximise your learning and yet leave enough space for time with your family if required.

In the tutors failing your assessment for the third time, it ended your two year training with us only 7 months in to the course. Despite the SKYPE lessons, the weekly assignments with tutors on hand, the access to over 160 gig of original source material, the hours spent in learning Hahnemanns methodology for case taking, the many cases you have sat in on and been guided through each part of the case taking, case analysis, medicine prescription and follow ups, and having read which cases you partook of, over 20, with full resolution of every case, you still have decided to cling to everything previously taught you in your other college.

I remember that you came and asked for help. As a practitioner of two years standing, your case load was not getting the success that you thought it should be, I recall you said perhaps only 3 in 10 were actually helped fully and many others were touched partially by the medicines but not really helped. I was impressed by your honesty and offered you a place on our course, with the first 2 months free of charge, so we could evaluate you and see if you could make the change from the method of prescribing you were following, a mix of spiritual, sensation method, remedy families and using the elements.

For the first two months, you were introduced to the Organon, the rationale behind the therapy of homoeopathy, discussions regarding Medicinal provings, and were allowed to view 2 casetaking sessions with student analysis sessions after. You saw the follow ups one month later, and the resolution to both problems and the patients dismissed from treatment.

For the past 5 months, particular attention has been paid to the hard work of studying medical provings, ripping them apart in the way we teach from the sources, so that the effects of the medicines are fully understood. You have been learning that medicines do not have personalities, just symptoms. You studied over 35 of Hahnemanns cases we gave to you to work out, and saw his mind and explanations in action. We introduced you to repertories and showed you how to use them and which ones would cause you trouble and the reasons why.

All the time we directed you to being a good and self sufficient Homoeopath that could fulfil the role in your clinic.

Then one day, you broke down and cried to a tutor that you were not happy. You felt that you were no longer a homoeopath because now you were becoming more of a doctor and not a healer using wonderful natural substances. When asked about the successes observed and compared to your previous numbers, you stated that cure on a spiritual level was far more important and that physical ailments were from a wounded psyche. There was nothing exciting about Hahnemann, it was all just medicine and there was not enough to stimulate the mind like Sankaran taught. It was mentioned that her use of his and others methods were not successful. That fell on deaf ears.

So we parted ways knowing that we could never change your mindset, and in reality, we did not want to. As Hahnemann found out, there were but few homoeopathic physicians in his time, and even fewer since. We only look for those who will do the work themselves, we guide and demonstrate, but its up to those individuals to be convinced by the literature and the results in clinic.

I do get weary of those that dont allow the facts to stand in the way of their prejudices, but then, I guess if the genuine motive is not there then we get what we get. For the record, homoeopathy is a medical speciality, and has to be treated as such.